001ation meeting to order on May 27, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. at the administration building. Uh, roll call, please. Been here. Becker here. Fortress present. Fox here. Leafroy here. Rati here. Hansen here. Uh, approval of the agenda. I move the board of education accept the agenda as written. Support. Moved by Heidi to uh accept the agenda as written. Support by Debbie. Is there any discussion? Uh, I would like to make a motion to add an item to discuss the return of Dr. Cooper. Return date. Okay. Motion supports approval of the agenda with the addition of discussing the return of Dr. Krooppy. Um, any more discussion? Nope. There's two motions there. We have to vote on my motion if he wants to add something to the agenda. I'm not updating my agenda. Did we vote? Did we
002vote on the agenda already? No. I asked for the motion to approve the agenda and Mr. Becker said he would like to add to the agenda. So, we did not vote on the agenda. I'm not amending my motion. Thank you. Okay. So, we vote on that motion first and then we can make the amendment. Is that correct? Okay. All in favor? Oh, no. I'm sorry. I do that all the time. Roll call to approve the agenda as presented. Fortress? Yes. Le Boys, yes. Beaton, no. Becker, no. Fox, no. Hinton. Yes. Now we have the second motion. Did you did these? No. If that's in carry, then the the meeting's done. If we didn't approve the agenda, there's no meeting. Then I make a motion to approve the agenda with the addition of discussion regarding the
003superintendent return date support. Don't you have to make the motion to add it as a main voted at the agenda turned down. So, as far as I'm concerned, the meeting is closed because no agenda was voted. No agenda was approved. Equals motion is on the floor. What motion is on the floor? That's what I thought that we do a new motion. Okay. So, we have a new motion. That's what I thought to add. April motion. I second. Okay. Motion by April, second by Monica to add return of Dr. Krooppy. Roll call. Eden, yes. Ricky, yes. Becker, yes. Fortress, no. Fox, yes. Leon boys, yes. Benson, no. Okay, motion carries. 6 5-2. Now we um have public comment. I have Chris Johnson. Uh you know what? I have to read this first. I'm not used to
004reading this. This is a business meeting of the board of education held in public, not a public community meeting. The board has provided two opportunities during the meeting for the public to address the board respectfully. The preciding officer may interrupt, warn, or terminate a participant session when they make comments that are negative, obscene, or comments that constitute a true threat. uh statements meant to frighten or intimidate one or more specific persons into believing that they will be seriously harmed by the speaker or someone acting at the speaker's behalf. Request any individual to stop speaking and leave the meeting when the person behaves in a manner that is disruptive of the orderly conduct or orderly progress of the meeting. request the assistance of law enforcement officers in the removal of a disorderly person when that person's
005conduct interferes with the orderly progress of the meeting. Call for a recess or an adjournment to another time when the lack of public decorum so interferes with the conduct and or orderly conduct of the meeting as to warrant such action. Now you can go ahead. You have five minutes. Thank you. Chris Johnson 23781 Krazy. We do not live in a democracy. As we are reminded every time that we say the pledge of allegiance, we live in a republic. We vote for the representatives to govern on our behalf. Whether that's Web, our mayor, McFall, our state rep, state rep, or all of you for the school board. We community members have entrusted you to act on our behalf. The system of government is completely dependent on trust. In January, you voted unanimously to go into close
006session to discuss something. We don't know what. Following that close session, you voted. You voted unanimously to place super the superintendent on paid non-disciplinary administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation. If you think something is wrong, it is your obligation to investigate. As a unanimous board, you thought something could be wrong and you followed the investigative due process and I applaud you for that. It was not an easy decision to make. You have asked the community to trust the process, to respect the investigation, and to believe that you have the best interests of the students and the community at the center of your actions. Now that these investigations are complete, we the community are asking this of you. Publish the findings. You owe us the report findings. These investigations were paid for by us,
007the community's taxpayers. We paid for them. Let us read them. I bring here the Warren Commission report on the assassination of JFK as a example of how a publicly funded report should be presented. I checked this 888 page book out from the Hazel Park Library today. There is no way that you can convince me that an investigation into a local school superintendent requires more discretion and more privacy than the assassination of a sitting president. I'm not arguing whether or not you have the legal right to discuss this in close session. You do. I'm here to have you think about whether or not you should discuss these report findings in close session. All the community knows is what is discussed in the board meetings. What we know is that the investigations are complete. The superintendent has
008been unanimously reinstated and we as a community need to know how we got to this point. Publish the reports to help the community's trust build back up in you, the board. Thank you. Okay, I have Deborah Deus. Good evening. I'm here tonight to respectfully urge you to expedite the return of Dr. Krooppy to her role as our superintendent. Each day her return is delayed has significant consequences, not only financially, but also in terms of our ability to effectively serve our students and staff. From a financial perspective, the district is currently bearing the expense of paying both Dr. Krooppy and the interim superintendent. While Dr. Cost's contributions during Dr. Koopy's absence have been sincerely appreciated, continuing to fund two superintendent salaries, especially after the board has already decided to reinstate Dr. Krooppy ultimately diverts essential resources
009from classrooms and student support. Equally urgent is the effect of our strategic planning efforts. We are at a crucial point in the year, a time to review performance data, reflect on key takeaways, and develop a targeted action plan for the upcoming school year. Dr. Krooppy's leadership and deep understanding of our district are vital to steering this process effectively. Delaying her return until after this critical planning window closes could mean missing a valuable opportunity for meaningful progress. It has been indicated that her return may be delayed until June 30th, by which time all building administrators will have left for the summer. We cannot move forward effectively without our leader in place. Dr. Krooppy has the vision, experience, and commitment necessary to guide us through this transition and help us fulfill our mission. Delaying her return only
010sets us back. I respectfully ask that you prioritize the swift reinstatement of Dr. Krooppy so we can realign our efforts and resources and move forward together with purpose and clarity. Thank you for your time and consideration. [Applause] Dave Morbido, uh, please state your address and you have five minutes. Yeah. David Morbido, 328 East Terry. Um, it's hard to follow up, Deb. She's I mean, that's wonderful. That is one of your school principles telling you that you're kind of messing up here and you need to bring our superintendent back. I came here today because it's really frustrating that we don't get to know where our tens of thousands of dollars have been spent to investigate something that just turned out to be who knows what's going on. You guys are making a horrible mistake. Our community
011has fully lost trust in you, specifically three of you. And you know which three you are. You're the ones with the personal vendetta against the superintendent. And that's absolutely ridiculous. Grow up a little bit. Or I would urge you to resign from your position because you're not fit to be representing our community for the benefit of our students. You're only hurting everybody in our community, especially our kids. Stop. Do the right thing. Let us know what's going on. Let us know the results of the investigation or why it was even conducted in the first place. This is absolutely absurd and you should be ashamed of yourselves. That's all I got. Hey, Don Mitchell. My name is Don Mitchell, 1216 East here at Hazel Park, Michigan. I want to start off by saying that the behavior
012of Bev towards April at the last meeting was absolutely disgusting and childish. April deserves a public apology considering she was called stupid by the board president during a public meeting. What example is that for our students and even staff for that matter? Now, as far as the board in the whole start acting like adults, when are we going to get these results of both investigations, not just Amy's, but on the boards as well? This has been How much money has been spent on all this the frivulous spending? How much more are we going to continue to spend? If you had nothing to do or nothing wrong, then why are you hiding the investigation results? Why do you not want to put it to sleep? Just put it to rest. Everybody would be fine if we
013for the most part if we knew what was going on. Nobody knows. Do you if the shoe was on their other foot, would you like it? No. I will ask you all again. How much more money are we going to spend? We, the taxpayers, deserve this answer, and we deserve it. Now, you, the whole board, are not putting the kids first. I appreciate that Nate, Monica, and April all stated they were not comfortable and not in agreement to the letters from the attorneys last week. Every one of you are failing the students. Every last one of you. Um, sorry. You three, um, say you don't agree with most of what's going on, then why don't you do something about it? You can call, email the state, get more involved, tell them really what's going on
014in on the board, not hiding it because you're being told. Plea, the three of you, the other three of you, please do the right thing for the community, the students, while you have the chance. You were voted in based on integrity, trust, and putting students first. You guys are not doing that based upon your actions. The other three member board members just give it up. Resign otherwise the district spends more money yet to recall your positions. It's coming hopefully sooner rather than later. Darren, you've never been afraid to speak your mind before. So why are you now? Speak speak the truth, not what you're being told. And off David's comment so everyone understands there has been $210,000 as of after last week to pay for or the addition was to pay for Miss Cost pay
015the annual salary of the in-house legal fees $190,000 a year which equals $400,000 that has been spent on this. How much more are we spending? So much more can be done for the community and the students. Do what's right. [Applause] Jennifer Jackson. My name is Jennifer Jackson. I live at 139 West Robert Avenue. Another special meeting that will go into close session. This behavior by this board is the opposite of transparent. A closed session is by definition closed off to the public's eyes and ears to protect something or somebody. So far, these closed sessions are veiled as consideration of materials exempt from discussion or disclosure by state or federal statute attorney client privilege. But is that what is really taking place behind closed doors during closed sessions? Are discussions taking place that should be held
016in an open meeting per the open meetings act? Hopefully, this meeting has been called to discuss Dr. Krooppy's return to work date and releasing details of both investigations to the public. The trust this community has for your leadership is gone. We did not elect you to figure out a way to wrigle out of a superintendent contract. Uh you may have a few friends who are cheerleading that uh but the community as a whole, it's not what we want. We did not elect you to protect yourselves from embarrassment by hiding in repetitive closed sessions. We did not elect you to spend a quarter of a million dollars of taxpayer money in a few months to shy away from accountability for the choices you've made on behalf of our district. We did not elect you to do
017anything other than support our Hazel Park schools and help our superintendent, the teachers, the staff guide our students toward success with programs, materials, and policies that help toward the completion of their public education. Last week, we heard during public comment based on paid invoices that this board led by Beverly Hinton and Deborah Laframo has approved spending over $200,000 in less than six months on legal fees. This figure doesn't include the salaries and benefits of employees. One investigation into Dr. Krooppy, which our community has never been provided with a reason why it began in the first place. and a second investigation into the behavior and potential policy violations of Beverly Hinton and Deborah La Fran Boyce following the placement of Dr. Krooppy on leave. Uh was it because the board president had directed IT department to
018forward all emails from the superintendent for a number of previous months and for a week following her uh placement on leave to Miss Hinton directly. We have an assistant superintendent. the emails were not forwarded to her. Or maybe it was when Miss Hinton walked out of the board office carrying materials that were not hers from the superintendent's office following her placement on leave. Both investigations are complete. Yet during the last meeting, Heidi Fortress motioned to have our board of education attorneys continue conversations with Dr. Krooppy's attorneys. Which Hazel Park tax Hazel Park taxpayers will sign the chocks whether we like it or not? Four members of our board voted in favor of spending more of our district's money for this and three members had uh enough courage to vote no because they want to move
019forward. We also heard Miss Hinton read two letters during her closing statements. So, she is capable. Ms. Hinton could read the results of both investigations out loud to the public and all of us in this room tonight. She could also explain to all of us how any of this has benefited the children of Hazel Park schools, if at all. But Miss Hinton alone is choosing not to share any of this information. Why is that? Lastly, the resignations from two board members are overdue and the call for their resignations is growing. The leadership of Ms. Hinton and Ms. Lafra boys has been disastrous to public trust. Their leadership has been extraordinarily expensive and fiscally irresponsible in an increasingly financially insecure landscape. They've brought this up many times in the meetings. Their direction and choices have created
020a toxic work environment for staff. Resign now and let our community begin to repair the damage you have done. As a community, we should be remaining in place and recording the behavior of these officials after the meetings end. As it's clear after last week, behavior unbecoming of a board president is shown as verbal abuse of colleagues when the district's cameras are off. Thank you. Alicia Morabido West. I'm Alicia Morbido. I'm at 328 East Terry Avenue. I'm not much of a public speaker. Um, I'm very conflict avoidant. I My heart's broken by what's going on. I I um I'm I was ready to go. I was ready to take my family and go. And I believe anybody else who's paying attention would feel the same way. Um, we had a wonderful elementary school experience under Dr.
021Groupy. Um, we had a good sixth grade year. This year's been tough. My default is probably to turn and go. I don't want to fight. I don't want to um deal with this kind of drama, you know. Um my girls have really good friendships. My girls are involved in some of the extracurricular things and my girls didn't want to go. My girls wanted to stay. So here we are. Here I am very uncomfortably speaking. And um I just really want you guys to understand that we can only have trust if this is brought into the light. And if it's not brought into the light, like everybody assumes the worst, right? It doesn't make sense. Um it really the the money spent breaks my heart, right? in a district that like my girl who ran track
022last year like didn't get a uniform, right? So, um she had to wear a red t-shirt because there wasn't enough uniforms. Um I I I want to be done personally, but my girls don't. So, I'm here and I'm ready to fight. And I just think it's there there isn't another option besides being open and honest and bringing this stuff into the light. That's the only way that there's going to be good people willing to stick it out with y'all cuz this is wrong. Um and I really really hope that the right thing is done here. Thank you guys. Okay, I need a motion to adjourn to close session. General Board of Education recess recess into close session under section 81H to consider matters to add sorry to consider matters exempt from discussion or disclosure by
023the state or fed federal statute attorney client privilege support. Okay. Motion by Heidi, support by Debbie to move into close session. Any discussion? Roll call. Fortress, yes. Lembolis, yes. Beaten, no. Becker, no. Fox, yes. Rasheed, no. Henson, yes. Motion carries four to three. Motion doesn't fails. Two3 vote. Okay. Uh, may I make is it possible for a motion to be made that we reveal what we were going to learn in close session, which I really don't know. Reveal it here in the public. Mr. Patterson, are you back there? I have it all. I have written here what I can can I without going in close session and hearing this first can I give this I have no idea what's give this are the attorneys here be pardon are the attorneys here one is virtual one
024is his assistant is here can we take a fiveminute recess so you can go discuss that with them you could I made a motion to take a fiveminut recess report. Motion take five minute recess support by Debbie. Any discussion? No. No discussion. Okay. No. All right. So, you're No, you're okay. Do a roll call. That's what I thought. Yeah. Roll call. Fortress. Yes. Leaf boys. Yes. Faton. Yes. Becker. Yes. Fox. Yes. Frati. Yes. Hinton. Yes. I'm sorry to make it confusing. I didn't mean to. No discussion. Oh, I mean No, you didn't want discussion or no, there wasn't discussion. No, I didn't want to do it. I mean, are you okay with like you don't need to step on it? I call back to order from recess. I make a motion to rejourn or rejourn
025the meeting from recess. Support. Motion to return from recess by Heidi. Support by Debbie. Roll call. Fortress. Yes. Leaf boys. Yes. Beaten. Yes. Becker. Yes. Fox. Yes. Rati. Yes. Hinton. Yes. So, this was the attorney's advice because it's attorney client privilege. It cannot be discussed out here and divulged. In the future, there will be a findings letter that would be able to be shared. And it's up to the board if they ever want to see the report or not. So, you will only see the findings letter. than going. I'm only following legal advice. Can they be removed if they're going to chirp in the audience? I had it already here, but I am not allowed to report it. Can they be removed if they're going to continue to speak in the audience? This is our
026meeting. Can we just move forward then? What's the next thing on the agenda? So, the next thing is the overnight track trip. Under new business, I move the board of education approve the overnight track trip as presented. Support to Hamilton, Michigan. Support. Moved by Heidi, support by April to approve the overnight track trip. Any discussion? Um I just had a question that I got some clarification on during the recess that um we authorized a bus for three people and Dr. Cross said that they are going to be driving themselves. So I would also like to add mileage on here for the coaches. It looks like it's 180 miles to this location since we're not um having a bus, which is a cost savings to the district. And that would be round trip. Round trip. Yep.
027So, it's 180 additional to the 730. No, it's 180 miles. I think our rate is the IRS rate is at 70 cents a mile. So, you want to add mileage. Yeah. So, it's probably about maybe 200 for each coach. Yeah, give or take. So, you motion to do that? Yeah. And make a motion to Am I Don't we have to Don't we have to vote on the original motion or take it away? Oh, you're amending. Got you. Gotcha. Um I make a motion. Should we quit doing that? Amen. My motion to include mileage and the total cost with a cap of 12 $1,200. I retain support. I have a motion by Heidi support by April to add the 180 miles cost one way to the track track trip. Discussion. Any other discussion? Roll call. Forress,
028yes. Been yes. Becker, yes. Fox, yes. The Brown boys, yes. Rati, yes. Hendrickson, yes. The next item is discussion of return of Dr. Krooppy. Madame President, I would like to make a motion that Dr. Krooppy, superintendent of Hazel Park Schools, start back to work on Wednesday, May 28th. Let the motion also Let the motion also include to give notice to Dr. Cost and to have Dr. CS help with this transition for the next 14 days, at which time Dr. CS will have completed her contract duties as interim superintendent. Support. Support. Was it Monica first? Yes, sure. Okay. I don't know that word for word, but Dare made a motion to return Dr. Krooppy to work support by Monica on tomorrow, uh, May 28th discussion. Any other discussion? Because she has a disciplinary action, her contract,
029I believe, states that she has to have a hearing with the board in order to do that. I believe that is part of the reason why we had our attorney gave permission for our attorney to speak to hers. I don't know the verbatim of her contract, but that's I'm not sure that could you please just hold out just let's get through this. Let's be peaceful, please. Thank you. Forget what I was saying. I'm sorry. You said you're not sure it was supposed to be a hearing. We have to have the discipline plan in place right before she returns is how I understand it and there is no plan yet a concrete plan. I would believe that we have some discretion as a board. What's I can't hear. I believe that we have some discretion as
030a board to to lay out some of these terms about the return, you know, and she can still return. We still have Dr. Cost here for the 14 days. There is more than enough time to figure out what we want to do. We have got We had a principal stand here and say we need her. We've got to get next year figured out. We have to get things going on track. She is coming back. So to have the transition and have Dr. cost and her work side by side and us figure out what's going on because clearly we are not figuring that out as a board together. I don't see what the issue is there. But I feel like we're going to be breaking additional I think we're going to be breaking laws. I'm done.
031I'm done. Can they be escorted out, please? This is our meeting. This is our meeting for them. Unfortunately, you don't. So, respectfully, respectfully, can you let these seven people please do their work? They're getting momentum here, and that's a positive thing, but the comments need to stop because it's interrupting the meeting. So, what were you saying, Amy? Dr. Krooppy has a contract, and in her contract, I believe it says something about having a discretionary hearing. So, we would be violating her contract if we did reinstated her before that happened. I I think what we need to keep in mind is that we did vote on the prepared statement that said there would be a plan of assistance. Um, which I think we should be very very careful in saying that that is a plan of
032assistance that we have not agreed. We have not voted. We have not agreed on specific charges or to levy discipline. Even if after discussion it were to come to that. I believe my motion was to for the discipline plan of assistance. There was also a discipline letter. Discipline and plan of assistance. There was there was those two item things that was the disciplinary letter. We have we have not seen we have not reviewed we have not created a disciplinary letter. So there we we have not agreed to we have not voted on something. There's also nothing that says that discipline if necessary after a hearing cannot be levied while a person is still at work. I every day I mean people are are spoken to they are corrected they are giving um improvement plans anything
033while they are actively working. I we voted to we voted to return the superintendent to work. Um, we have we have administrators of this district who are saying that strategically to be able to plan effectively uh prior to the close of the school year, prior to their leaving for the summer, that this is something that they need in place. Uh, we have a motion that is on the table. We have the authority to we have the authority to make this move and we should be voting on Mr. this motion and this is legal advice because he said hon or before the 30th. This is on this is before and and the other motion stated that we would be doing those other two things. So those other two things are still coming. It's just that we
034are going to vote to start her again. Start her back. That's what we're doing. Just starting her back to work. But she's still our superintendent. She has been. I don't disagree with that. It's just it it's just that I here's my last comment. It is my hope that we can now move forward to the governing of our school district for our parents and students and staff at Hazel Park Schools. I'm hopeful to have a positive relationship with Dr. Krooppy. If you look back that 10 years ago, our district was nothing but gloom and doom. And a lot of the board two or three of the board members remember that. Um, and I know that the board of education has faced a lot of challenges this past 6 months, but with the help of Dr. Krooppy
035and administrators and the staff as well as Oakland schools, we got through that mess. I mean, as a collective group, we got through those those that mess of being in debt and all that. And it took a team to do that. And I believe that uh we still have a lot of challenges ahead bringing our fund balance back up as well as the education of our students increase their test scores. Um that's all I have to say. I uh I'm just want I just think this is the right move. Like someone said earlier today, um I was What did you say exactly? Is you said that I've always spoke up your voice and you were never in this in this time I'm speaking up and using my voice because I have looked at Facebook. I
036have been ridiculed and my colleagues have been ridiculed. I disagree with a lot of things that were said on Facebook because they don't know what was going on. And to attack members of this board is not good because we have to work together as a team and we will work together as a team with Dr. Krooppy as the superintendent and I I'm my heart is assured that we will work together as a team. I guarantee it. And if we don't then I guess I was I was wrong but I'm done. I'm sorry. Uh my two cents would be if we could postpone that until we talk to the um attorney that is helping us create the plan. If we could even postpone it till Monday till we talk to that attorney. I'm ready to vote
037on the motion. We have a motion on the table. We should vote on it. I agree with Debbie. We all voted 70 to that that plan. I read it at the last meeting. We all agreed. We all did 70 to start this leave to begin with. We all did 70 on the plan. Everybody agreed that there needed to be oversight. That plan is it's 4 days. What is it? Four days. Wednesday, Thursday. It obviously makes a huge difference to our staff, our principles, our staff, and that's what's supposed to matter. Can we move? Okay. So, let's vote. Roll call, please. Fox, yes. Richie, yes. Beaten, yes. Becker, yes. Portres, I'm a no only until we talk to an attorney. Our attorney otherwise be a yes. Leon boys, I feel the same. I really would like
038to talk to the attorney first. So, I'm a no for right now. I'm a no for the same reason. Motion carries for Okay, I am at board member straight up public comment. I would like to make a motion that the written the written findings of the investigation completed by the Allen Law Group into possible board violations by the board president and vice president are sent to the full board by email by 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. Support I disagree. Mo that cannot be done but motion by April be and second by Monica. It's our investigation. We asked for I just talked to the attorney that said it cannot be done. It's attorney client privilege. Mr. Patterson there are people's names in there that should not be released. It's our attorney. If you wanted to find if
039you wanted to know the findings then we can go into close session. No we it is our investigation. We asked for it. We voted for it. The findings are board findings. We have the right to review slow session. It does not. She can it can be provided by email. A written copy can be provided by email to the board. It was our investigation. It's completed. We can have the results. We did. Anything that is done, any electronic communication per our own bylaws, any electronic communication is still the spirit and the letter of the open meetings act applies. It can still be attorney client privilege. It can still be reviewed, but we called this investigation. We have the right to see the results. Okay, Mr. Patterson, ultimately it's the decision of the board to make as
040to whether or not the information is revealed. It is covered by attorney client privilege and there is information that he had um suggested not be made privy to the public at large um outside of the attorney client privilege discussion with the board members ahead of time but ultimately it is up to the board to decide. We're not asking for it to be public. We're asking it to be sent to the board members. Okay. So you send it to the board members. It's going to be public. Can we redact what he he said is private? Hold on. I would I would like to we have we have bylaws we have board bylaws in place that that govern electronic communication. Electronic communication amongst members of the board must follow the spirit and the letter of the open
041meetings act. So if somebody at this table sends a copy to the public that is a clear provable violation of the open meetings act and that person should then be penalized appropriately. We are it is our investigation. We have the right to see the results. We don't I whether a summary letter is sent out, whether action is taken, whether we decide to move forward and ask for an attorney's advice based on on what is in there, that's up to us. But we have the right to review it. And I've made a motion. There has been a support. It should be voted on in close session. I think Miss We don't vote in close session. We vote in open session. Correct. So, the motion is that it be sent by email to the seven members of
042the board of education by 8:00 a.m. tomorrow. There is clear understanding that open meetings act still applies and attorney client privilege still applies. Let me have the right to review the findings. What happened in close session, April? Because there was stuff discussed in close session two weeks ago that all of a sudden became public. How did that happen? I if stuff became public, I don't know. You tell me. So obviously someone on this board told somebody in the public, then that should be investigated. I as president as president I receive this report. I receive all reports. I do not share it with the board. It's attorney client privilege. I don't share it with board members. We were exonerated from everything in that report. So, I have no objections to people seeing that we were not
043guilty of a hostile work environment. We were not guilty of looking at emails and and getting on. We were not guilty of anything. The problem is there's people's names in that report that the attorney said they may not want people to know they were a witness and that they were spoken to. And that's the issue. So attorney just told you to not say any of that. Pardon? Our attorney told you not to discuss any of that. You just did. So, she's the client. So, are we and you don't even want us to see the report? We are the client. Whenever When Laura Atkins was president, she dealt with the attorney. We were not allowed to discuss stuff unless we were in close session. We were not allowed. We weren't even allowed to see the legal
044bills. I asked Dr. Krooppy multiple times, can I see these legal bills? Nope. Nope. You got to go through Brick Navy. Rick Ngi, can I see the legal bills? Nope, you can't. But Rick Nai and Laura Atkins aren't president right now. What I'm asking is, again, I have a motion on the floor asking for the written results of the investigation. If there's nothing in them, we can close the books on that. Like, that's it. I'm asking for a written copy of that investigation to be emailed to the board of education by 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. April, it's the people's names that are in there. So, if we were in that room, we would be reading people's names. Session. Exactly. Then you would come out and you would say something because somebody keeps coming out of
045there doing that. So I guess we vote and if it's for three then it gets released tomorrow. Do you have a comment to me? it. I'm not privy to what the contents are, but the attorney who generated that report uh recommended that it be discussed at a close session. I don't know what that report would reveal or what position it would put others in. Absent knowing what was in there. I would have to respect his recommendation that it be discussed at a close session. that can always change at some point if in fact there is as I've heard some effort to redact or something like that if the board wants to. Ultimately it's the board's decision whether or not to release it whether or not to review it in close session whether or not to
046have it emailed directly to you. I can only defer to the attorney who created the report and conducted the investigation as to what his recommendation was. Beyond that um it's ultimately the board's decision. It's just us as board members would be reading in close session anyways. It's not going out to any the board member sorry the board members would be able to read it in close session. It was his recommendation to start there so you all have an equal and and is this correct statement? If we get it via email it can be foyed at that point and going to the public. It would have to be very carefully emailed attorney client um privilege and confidential that sort of thing. Um, but it still was his recommendation. There was an opportunity at the beginning of
047the meeting to discuss it in close session and you could come out and choose to choose to pursue that course of action or you could pursue it through motion that's in front of you right now. That's not for me to We just had a lot of community members request and demand for us for more. Indeed. And that's why I did not want to go into close session. We need more. You would be privy to it all in close session. the entirety of the report and then you could there's nothing preventing you from taking further steps beyond that. But ultimately was their recommendation that we discuss it in close session and not be sent out. The attorney who authored the report recommended that it be discussed. He he said he has never heard of a board
048not wanting to go in and hear a report. That's what he said. He's never heard of this. So he wasn't quite sure how to proceed. So again, if the document is protected by attorney client privilege that remains our own board operating procedures 2.1 board member communication with each other letter B electronic communications number one shall abide by the spirit and letter of the open meetings act. that the protections would remain. The letter of the open meetings act would remain. We have we authorize this investigation as a board. We have the right to review the findings of the investigation. I would our board bylaws say that there is a there is a a motion and a support on the table and I would appreciate if we could adhere to our own board bylaws and we could
049please vote on the motion. Can can we have the attorney send it? I don't know if you can send it by 8, maybe you can send it by 9. I don't know what time it's in there. I think it can be foyed after. If it's if we're getting it via email, anything we get via email, then it can be foyed. Now, if it comes from the attorney and it says confidential confidential attorney client privilege, correct? That's what I'm asking for. Let's have the attorney do that. Let's have the attorney. That's fine. Have the attorney send it. I So, I'm not Can you please amend your motion then to say 10:00 a.m.? I don't know what time he gets into this office. I would say by end of business tomorrow. You don't know what his plans
050are for tomorrow. And honestly, I kind of feel like we're losing track of the issue here. We're arguing semantics about the time at this point. And it's and it's if it's foiled, it's foiled. We don't have anything to hide. What do we have to hide? If it's foiled, the the confidential information or whatever shouldn't be shared. It has names in it. It still is that will be redacted on a FOYA. That stuff's redacted regularly. Could it be redacted? the names foyas are subjected to review for redacted materials um to see if there is privileged materials contained there. So we if it was marked confidential and privileged then it would not be open available through foil. So it's still protected. So then again I'm I'm requesting for you to amend your motion so that you get
051it tomorrow. I just don't want to guarantee by 8 a.m. the attorney can send it. That will be the will of the board. Well, we paid their invoice the next day. So, okay. I think they can do it. We pay them. Did you We get it by 8:00 a.m. I'm just I'm just saying I I would hate to put them in a position where they if they don't even come into the office till 9:00. Maybe they play golf. I don't know. I'm just requesting. That's all. The the spirit of my motion remains. I will for for the sake of moving forward I will amend my motion to say that by 10 I would by 10:00 a.m. on May 27th that the 28th, sorry, May 28th, 27th, that the the written results of that investigation be
052emailed to members of the board of education with the understanding that attorney client privilege remains intact in that communication. Also smart. Okay. Motion by April, second by Monica to have the report sent by I was what? 10th tomorrow. Any more discussion? Roll call. Yes. Ratit. Yes. Becker. Yes. Fortress. No. I'm respecting the the attorney's recommendation. Fox. No, I'm concerned about the uh the names that are in there. Leaf boys. No. Honot fails four to three. Uh Mr. Patterson. Did he say when I would get the findings letter? He did not. Okay. If if he did, I didn't hear him. And then that can be shared out by me. Correct. Right. Correct. Okay. I thought you already had the findings letter. All right. She does not have the findings. What's that? You have the findings, correct?
053No, I I have the report. You know, this is something people don't understand. The role of a board president. The role I'm a board president is privileged to a lot of information and is allowed to do um they can't hire people. They can't fire people. Um but the role of president, you're the lead person. They have to have a contact. they can't come to six other people. So, you're in the role for a reason. Respectfully, our own board procedures again do say that no individual and no individual officer holds authority that the board does not have as a whole. And under board president, the point of contact, yes, the sole the sole holder of information or the sole authority. No. Okay. Moving on. Uh, public comments. Sarah Pitchford. Hello. Can you hear me? I need
054to make sure my voice is heard. Uh, my name is Sarah Pitchford. I live at 334 East Bernard. Um, I'm here tonight because I'm deeply concerned for the well-being of our students, the health of our district, and the future of our community. What I've witnessed from several members of the school board reflects on alarming misuse of power. One that prioritizes personal agendas over the educational, emotional needs of our children. As both a parent and a mental health professional, I can tell you the tone, especially tonight, set by leadership matters. And right now the tone is one of conflict, not care, control, not collaboration. Last week, the board president Beverly Hinton publicly called a fellow board member stupid loudly. That's how brave she is for simply informing the community of the right to transparency. On top
055of that, a statement was re released before shared with the board that claims there's no duty to keep the public informed about decision-making. That's deeply troubling. Why wouldn't transparency be a duty? As a therapist, I work with families and children every day. I know how damaging it is when adults in positions of power act out of personal grievance instead of model modeling accountability and integrity. What's happening here doesn't just reflect poorly on the board. It has real consequences for our students well-being, trust and leadership, and the stability of their learning environment. I hope that all of the kids in our district are out playing spring sports and busy and not watching you, you and you. That is an embarrassing embarrassing representation of leadership and you go expect them to sit in classroom in mind. I
056urge you to remember why you are here. The student and the community deserve leadership rooted in humility, reflection, respect, not division, retaliation or silence. Thank [Applause] you, Jacob Donnelly. I'm Good evening. My name is Jacob Donnelly. I'm at 23368 Davy Avenue. I've been a Hisbach resident for the last fourish years now. and I am a first-time school district parent. My daughter is old enough to be in kindergarten and has been going through a delightful year over at Hoover. And unfortunately, my first impression of the school district tends to be the focus of the school board. And it is ridiculous, a little embarrassing, and I am frustrated by so many of these meetings. I have been attending them since hearing of the results of the January 27th meeting and seeing each week go by without much
057progress in terms of awareness and knowledge and transparency has been taled about. It feels as though we are continuing to hide things. As much as transparency is said to be important, I have not seen enough of it, if any of it. I do feel comfortable with a few folks on the board. I've seen your actions play out daily as you are abiding by what you say you are planning to do. However, I see others who are not following along with what the board stands for. I see others who are changing sides consistently and uncontrollably and it is confusing. I see others who are seemingly asking for permission even though all of you seem to have the same level of authority as a board member officer should have as explained today. Even it is concerning. I
058will also say 600 people is not seven people. That is not computable. But I find myself often teaching my children, a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old, lessons. And I realize these are things that I need to follow abide by by myself. That I can't have them do as I say and not follow as I do. So I am consistently and unfortunately reminded of the examples that I need to put forward myself in my own household. I am a part of a community group that is trying to be a positive influence. I am helping to restart a parent organization at my school to try and be a continued positive resource and effort in the building. I'm present consistently because I'm a stayhome parent at this time. Thankfully, I have the time to be there. And I would
059really appreciate it if all of us as community members, as adults, as representatives of smaller educating people could feel the same way about themselves as they do the work they're telling others to do. I have a hard time sitting still quietly observing, waiting for change, and wanting to see something more positive. And I feel as though I have not seen something more positive. And that I have only consistently seen memorable negatives come from these meetings so far. I had a discussion with my wife before we put our daughter into the schools and said, "We can try kindergarten. We can see how it goes." You know, what's one district versus another? We're not going to be aware until we really get in there and find out. And I feel as though we are sitting here having
060to question was Hoover and Hazel Park the right choice for us. Okay. Uh Gina Hodson. [Music] Hi there. Gina Hodgson. I'm just reading um something a teacher friend wrote that I am co-signing here. Um so tonight I'm not just speaking as an educator but as a concerned member of a community that is hurting. The ongoing investigation into the superintendent has stretched on far far too long. What started as a process meant to uncover the truth and ensure accountability has developed into mayhem, distrust, and deep division across our district. Regardless of where anyone stands on the matter, we cannot deny the toxic climate that has taken root because of the length and lack of transparency of this process. Staff morale is at an all-time low. Uncertainty breeds anxiety. And right now, many of us are questioning
061not just the leadership, but whether anyone is looking out for the well-being of the people who serve this district daily, teachers, support staff, and most importantly, our students. And perhaps most alarming, I know of multiple talented and dedicated colleagues who are actively looking for jobs elsewhere. Not because they want to leave Hazel Park, but because they feel like they have no choice in order to protect their peace, their careers, and their sense of purpose. We hear rumors in the hallways, whisperings in meetings, and anger at family dinner tables. Parents, teachers, and even students are absorbing the dysfun absorbing the dysfunction, and no one seems to have any clear answers. The lack of transparency and the inconsistent communication and the sense of secrecy are not just unprofessional, they are harmful. The situation is not only eroding
062trust in leadership, but it's also distracting from the real work we are here to do. educate children and support families and create a thriving school community. I urge the board to bring clarity to the situation quickly and responsibly. The longer this drags on, the deeper the damage. The if the investigation has reached a conclusion, the community deserves to know the outcome. If it hasn't, we deserve an honest explanation about what is causing the delay and a clear timeline of for resolution. We teach our students to be accountable, to hold their to own their actions, and to act with integrity. We should expect nothing less from our leaders. This district cannot heal until we confront the damage headon and begin to rebuild trust. This starts with truth, transparency, and timely action. Thank you. Ryan Voss, 1721
063East Jarvis. Um, it seems like more and more people are starting to pay attention. So, I think this is a good time to let the community know that there is a group of us um actively pursuing a recall. There is some petition language filed now. There's a hearing on the 2nd for approval or denial. So please stay tuned for signature collections on the recall of President Hinton and Vice President Lefroy. Anybody else? Okay, board comments. Um I would like to say thank you to everyone who came out tonight. There's many people who are new. Many people who are repeat. Um I appreciate you, Alicia. You make my mom heart cry too because just seeing you up there. I feel I feel that. It hurts. I I teared a little. Um and I know speaking's not
064always easy, but I thank you from the bottom of my mom heart. And everybody else, it's I don't want to see your kindergartener go. I I hope that we can make a difference and I hope that you will think of staying because I do think that Hazburg can be great and we've been great and we will be great again. Um I do want to acknowledge at our eighth grade um dance is going to be Thursday which is also Jard's graduation. Um our graduation for our high school will be Friday at 7:00 and I'm praying the weather stays pretty. I know I probably shouldn't say that out loud but I'm hoping. Um today our varsity baseball season came to an end. They unfortunately lost today, but um I know they really kicked butt all season. So,
065congratulations to them. Our varsity softball has definitely kicked butt. Um they start district Saturday at noon um at Clarenceville. And I just want to say welcome back to Dr. Ky. I want to echo, you know, thanks for everyone coming out and speaking. We hear you. We appreciate it. Uh I know it's difficult. It can be very difficult to get out there and speak. Uh but we hear you. We really do. Um it means a lot. Uh also I'm looking forward to graduation on Friday. Um excited. Honors night was really exciting. It was fun to see all the kids and and uh students get uh their their due. And uh congratulations to Mrs. Mckenry for retiring. Good for her. Uh thanks Dr. Cost for stepping in. I know it's been difficult uh but you know you've
066helped a lot. You've helped me learn a lot uh as I'm learning things too. So uh looking forward to moving forward and working together and getting things done. Thanks. I do want to echo that. Thank you. You have helped push through quite a bit. I would also like to thank Dr. C for her service and I appreciate you a lot for what you've done for us. Um, also to the the people out there in the public, the gentleman that came up and spoke about his uh students, you know, I the only way we're going to fix this is by having open communication. And I feel that I want to communicate. I want to sit there, have coffee with you, tea, hot chocolate, whatever you drink, and listen to you. I I want to do that
067with each and every one of you, whether you're on one side or the other, because that's the only way a board member is going to understand what the public needs and what the public direction should be when we sit up here and vote. Otherwise, we don't hear all of it. Now, I have gotten some phone calls. I've gotten some uh secret letters. I've gotten some uh secret emails, as Mrs. Papazian knows cuz she used to be on the board and those are all fine, but um I just I just want to say I'm more than willing and more than open. I have a coffee shop up down the street up from me and we can go there anytime to uh to talk and and to anybody. Um I did not vote for the passing out
068of the information because I respect the staff members that could be listed in there. I don't know what's in there, but there could be staff members listed, and I would think I would want to make sure it was okay with them to broadcast that out before Yeah. before it was done. So, that's why I voted no. Um because I just didn't feel comfortable in in doing that. Um that's the only reason. Um as far as board members go, um you know, we're here, we're public, we're you know, the names that that's okay. Um, but that's all I have to say and and uh um thank you. Anybody else? I have a couple things. Um, I would just like to say that we have an amazing opportunity to end this week on a high note at
069our graduation ceremonies and I very much looking forward to those and also to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Katherine Cost who stepped up and provided excellent service um as our interim superintendent and I am honored to have worked with her during that time. Was that it? Okay. We've been asked many times how this um all started that people have been in the dark and they don't know um why any investigation started. So, I have it here tonight and a couple other comments. Um, I read the finance policy in January, um, because our finances were in shambles and we voted uh, 70 for the leave. In September and October, the audit report to the board noted that the materials had been provided late, making it difficult for the auditors to complete their work effectively.
070In June of 24, the board was informed that Plant Moran, our auditing firm for the last nine years, had resigned. The firm had not been paid for the previous year's work of $70,000, and critical financial materials were not provided in a timely fashion. Once again, the board voted to hire UHY as the new audit firm. While UHY quoted a price of $55,000, the final cost was $130,000, an additional $75,000 due to poor financial recordkeeping. The board approved an additional $20,000 for the director of business and operations to train the new finance department. In September, the director of business and operations submitted his resignation, but agreed to uh on part-time work through December. An additional staff member was hired at a cost over of over $100,000 to help organize the financial records. This brought the office
071staffing to three instead of two dedicated to correcting the district books. In September and October of 2024, UHY was scheduled to begin the audit in September, but the audit was delayed five times because the business office had not prepared the required work. This resulted in missing the required audit due November 1st. The audit officially began October 21st, 2024 and it was completed in February of 2025. The board resolved to borrow $12 million, namely for payroll operating and operating expenses as state aid could not be distributed until the audit was complete and accepted. The interest on the loan is approximately $500,000. To decrease interest, 8 million has been paid, leaving us about $250,000 interest, and the remainder of the 4 million is due in August. The board was informed of IRS compliance issues with potential potentials
072for penalties, interest, and a property lean. These issues resulted in additional costs of $130,000 to the district. In February 2025, the audit revealed the district had overspent by $6 million, causing the fund balance to fall from 11% to 1%. This is below the state mandated 5% leading the Hazel Park schools being placed on a Michigan Treasury watch list. As a result, the district is now required to submit monthly financial reports to the state. The cumulative financial mismanagement led to over $755,000 in additional unplanned expenses, higher audit fees, additional staffing, IRS compliance, penalties, and loan interest largely stemming from improperly maintained financial records. As trustees of taxpayers dollars, the board had a fidiciary duty to investigate these issues thoroughly. We even had MEA representative said in a message to teachers that they were lucky the board
073was incompetent because their 5% raise would not have happened. It is worth noting that in 2015, the district faced a $8 million deficit due to a lack of board due diligence. This history underscores the importance of continued diligence and transparency in financial governance. We are determined not to repeat that mistake again. And that's why it all began because it the books were not in order and it cost us 75 $755,000 of money for students because everything was in disarray. The other part, okay, there's a lot of misinformation out there. I understand the transparency. I understand people being upset, but there's a lot of false information that continues to be put out there. We I did not carry anything out of Dr. Krooppy's office. I did not. But nobody's going to believe that we are not
074up to $250,000. Somebody said it's $300,000. On Facebook it said we're up to a million. Our attorney cost submitted so far is $26,133. I'm expecting that will double because that isn't the cost of the investigation of board members. that now includes more conversation with an attorney because it wasn't resolved tonight. The cost of uh Dr. Cost June 30th, which will be a little less, was 80,000. It's not even close to 300,000. I didn't include Dr. Krooppy's pay because that was already in the budget. That wasn't an added expense. The other two things are added expenses. that is a far cry from 300,000 500,000 um I would not pursue and do that kind of things to the district. I want people to be paid. I want them to be respected for working here and it's done
075through your pay many many times. So I have somebody that posts on Facebook that I'm a disgrace to the community. What I think is a disgrace is a room full of people this board employs breaking the board bully policy to portray the mean girls, a movie where characters are bullies are called life ruiners and make plans for revenge against people. It has been consistent on Wednesday that employees at our board office dress in pink thinking that bullying is funny. Is the staff planning revenge on the board for doing our job? Bullying is defined in policy as causing substantial detrimental effects on a person's mental health, causing substantial disruption in a substantial interference with the orderly operation of a school district. It is the policy of this district to provide a safe and nurturing environment for
076all. Appropriate behavior, treating others with civility and respect, and refusing to tolerate bullying is expected of students. That's very respectful. To tolerate bullying is expected of students as well as administrators, faculty, staff, visitors, and volunteers. The behavior displayed on May 15th has raised concerns for me seeing that the mean girls get revenge. It was written on Facebook, "I called a board member stupid and I was a horrible example to students." What kind of example is this? staff acting like the mean girls and dressing in pink out and out representing bullying. I spoke to April after the meeting and told her she could be friends with Amy. I didn't care. But would she please quit coming to meetings and making me out to be a liar when she is behind the scenes joining to secretly be
077a part be part of the plan to wear pink and be a bully? She looked down at her clothes and I said, "I'm wearing blue." I said, "Don't play stupid." And she shouted out, "Are you calling me stupid? It is concerning to me and trying to get this board to come together as a team for kids that three board members would participate in in the bullying demonstration. I'm here for kids. I'm not here for one person." And there's a gentleman. He has said a lot of things on uh on the Facebook that's untrue. However, he stated we are accountable to the community and responsible for public funds. He's right and that's why there was an investigation. Does anybody have anything else? You do realize that there is not what it means. And also you were
078wearing pink. [Music] Anybody else? Is there adjournment? Motion to adjourn. Support. Support. Motion to All right. I got to get to my other